Waste and pollution watchdog Ecological Waste Coalition (EcoWaste) on Saturday decried the littering during the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila also last Saturday.

The celebration, which drew millions of devotees left the processional route from Quirino Grandstand to Plaza Miranda littered with tons of garbage, mostly styrofoam, plastic bags, soiled paper, and food leftovers.

The EcoWaste Coalition lamented the blatant breach of Republic Act 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which among others, prohibits and penalizes all forms of littering.

EcoWaste president Manny Calonzo earlier appealed to the devotees to keep the celebration litter-free. “We are saddened by the trashing of Luneta during the reenactment of translacion, the evidence of wastefulness became visible as the crowd left the area littered with styrofoam, plastic bags, soiled paper and food leftovers.”

“We obviously need to do more to green the devotion and fulfill our task as stewards of His creation,” he said.

While the group finds the widespread littering in Luneta and Quiapo very disappointing, “we laud the waste pickers, street sweepers and student volunteers for their valuable services for the environment.”

Calonzo said the waste pickers, in particular done an amazing work by retrieving recyclables, such as plastic cups and bottles, in preventing these resources from being dumped, burned and wasted. “The wastefulness of the Quiapo fiesta dishonors the Black Nazarene to whom many Filipinos come begging for deliverance and healing, especially from poverty and ailments that could have been aggravated by unhealthy environment.”

In past years, some 19 trucks were required to clear affected streets, especially in Quiapo, of fiesta trash estimated at 124 tons.